Recent statistics published by the European Commission indicate that only 37 per cent of the EU population holds a European Health Insurance Card. Closer to home, these same statistics show that as, at end 2008, only 33.7 per cent of the Maltese population had acquired this card. Indeed, the Maltese do not fare so badly particularly when compared with other countries such as Spain or Greece where only four per cent and one per cent of their population respectively have obtained an EHIC.

The European Health Insurance card, or the EHIC for short, facilitates access to healthcare services for EU citizens as well as for citizens hailing from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland during temporary visits abroad. This card ensures that all European citizens will get the same access to public sector healthcare, including a hospital, as nationals of the country which they are visiting so that they can proceed with their stay abroad without any undue hassles or waste of precious holiday time. If such travelers need to receive treatment in a country that charges for healthcare, they will be reimbursed by their country of origin as soon as possible, or after returning home.

However, it is important to note that healthcare costs incurred for planned treatment in another EU country is not covered by the European Health Insurance Card, but requires previous authorisation from the country of origin. Similarly, the card does not cover healthcare given by private sector health care providers.

Any person who is insured by or covered by a state social security system in any country of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland is eligible to obtain such a card.

Each member of the family travelling must have his/her own card in order to be entitled to its benefits. Each country is responsible for producing and distributing the card on its own territory through the health authority and the card is given free of charge.

Interestingly enough, the reasons given by EU citizens as to why they do not hold such a card are various, ranging from the fact that they have never heard anything about it to the fact that they can simply not be bothered to obtain one. What is certain is the fact that the benefits accruing from the attainment of such a card are being ignored.

Though the number of people seeking to obtain this card seems to be on the increase, it is evident that both at an EU and at a national level more public awareness of the benefits accruing from an EHIC is necessary. Indeed, all EU countries could possibly seek to follow the example set by Austria, the Czech Republic, Italy and Switzerland, where the EHIC is issued automatically to all people insured by the state social security system.

mariosa@vellacardona.com

Dr Vella Cardona is a practicing lawyer and a freelance consultant in EU, intellectual property, consumer protection and competition law. She is also a visiting lecturer at the University of Malta.